Alderney is one of the Channel Islands, which are located in the English Channel near the coast of Normandy, France. It is a British Crown dependency, though it is not part of the United Kingdom. Alderney’s location at the entrance of the English Channel made it strategically important for the British Navy. The island was seen as a key point for controlling access to the Channel, particularly during times of tension with France in the 19th century.
Alderney’s breakwater, a massive sea defense and harbour construction project, was one of the most ambitious engineering feats of its time. Construction began in the 1840s under the direction of British engineers. The breakwater and harbour were designed to provide a safe anchorage for the Royal Navy and to enhance the island’s defensive capabilities. The harbour was envisioned as a naval base that could be used to launch operations in the Channel against the French navy.
Alderney’s Victorian forts are an integral part of its historical landscape, representing a significant period in the island’s military history. The forts were primarily constructed in the 19th century as part of a broader strategy to defend the harbour and fleet against potential French aggression.
